A great silence seemed at once to fall upon the people, while the storm blazed and thundered on; and in the midst of it Mr. Truelocke began his discourse.
"My brethren," said he, "I did not think to have been so cruelly put to shame as I have been by you this day. Long have I toiled to make you follow His righteousness, who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; long have I trusted that you were indeed partakers of that Spirit whose fruits are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness. Alas!
what longsuffering, what peace, what gentleness have you shown to-day?
Ye have well-nigh done a man to death in the very house of G.o.d, and before the eyes of me your pastor. I stand rebuked here, a teacher whose teaching is proved useless and fruitless. From this day forth I will preach to you no more, but will lay down, a little before the law takes it from me, the office I have so ill discharged. Now hearken to me once more, and once only; and let not my last sermon prove so idle as those I have preached to you before."
With this preamble, which struck every one into awe, he began to preach with an uncommon fervour, as one who was all on fire to have men turn from their sins, and to close with the offers of G.o.d"s mercy while yet it was time; and this earnestness of his, and a certain pa.s.sionate tenderness in his looks and tones, something more than ordinary, would not let us forget the resolve he had expressed. His text was, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" and having enlarged on it with such piercing eloquence as I have spoken of, and come to an end of his discourse, he made a little pause, and then said,--
"Little as I like to mingle any private matters of mine own with the message I stand here to deliver, I had determined, when I should come before you for the last time, to say something of the reasons why I cannot comply with what our rulers require of us. I will not depart from that determination because a strange cause has moved me to lay down mine office some few days sooner than law requires." He stopped a moment, looking troubled; then he resumed: "Not my own humour, nor the pride of a vain consistency, holds me back from compliance. I have sought in prayer, and in study, and in discourse with my brethren, for light on this matter; but in my mind is something still unsatisfied that bids me persevere in my fixed opinion, so long adopted; I can do no other. Therefore, submitting patiently to leave my church and my flock, I pray your pardon for any fault I make in this resolution; of G.o.d"s pardon I am a.s.sured."
Having said thus, he bowed his fatherly head, praying inwardly, and all the congregation wept and prayed with him, though many of them afterwards showed themselves highly displeased with the way he had taken of rebuking their violence; also great efforts were used to make him break his resolve of preaching there no more, it wanting more than a week or two of the appointed day in August when he must needs desist; but he would not yield to do more than pray publicly; and the pulpit was for a season supplied by other men.
I am wandering away, however, from that day and its doings, of which I have not finished the account. While Mr. Truelocke was preaching, the storm drew off and died away in distant mutterings, so that it was in a very great stillness that he spoke his last words. However, the rain was still falling, though without violence, when we came out of the church; so we waited awhile in the porch till the clouds had rolled away, many others who did not love a wetting doing the same as we, and there was much talking.
None of our party said aught, till Mrs. Bonithorne, one of the wealthiest farmers" wives in the parish, turned herself to Aunt Golding, saying,--
"Heard you ever anything so strange, neighbour, as yon awful thunder-clap coming close on the malicious words of the brawling Quaker?
He ought to have quaked and trembled indeed at the voice of Heaven rebuking his madness."
"But that he did not, mistress," said I, something too pertly, I fear; "for he bade the people hearken to the voice of G.o.d bearing witness against _them_."
"Did he so?" cried she; "the more was his impudence to wrest the heavenly sign in his favour. But what make you then of the pa.s.sing away of the storm when Mr. Truelocke began to preach, and of the sweet calm that had fallen on all things when he ended? was that a witness in favour of Quaker madness?"
"Nay, I make nothing of it," said I; and Aunt Golding added,--
"You would not interpret it as a sign of approval granted to Mr.
Truelocke for his hasty resolve never to preach to us again? For my part, I hope he will be persuaded otherwise."
"Truly I hope so," said Dame Bonithorne, her ruddy colour deepening; "for it"s too cruel an affront he puts on us poor people;" and I know not how much more she might have said, but for Harry Truelocke, who now came up to the porch, and, beckoning Aunt Golding forth, whispered to her how Andrew had carried the Quaker to the Grange, and now desired her presence; at which we all set forth together, the rain having ceased; and on the road Harry tells us, what sore disquieted Aunt Golding, that the man had only come to West Fazeby on Andrew"s account.
"It seems," said he, "you met him on your road hither, when he was in the hands of some base fellows that had a mind to maul him--do you remember such a matter?" and Aunt Golding saying how she remembered it very well, Harry went on to say that the man, having noted Andrew"s willingness to serve him, had ever since "had a concern on his mind for the good youth,"--that was his phrase,--and had been led to our village, and to the very church, being a.s.sured he would see Andrew there. "It"s a strange, mad story," quoth Harry.
Althea had given earnest heed to this tale, and now she asked, "And what says Master Andrew to such wild talk? I suppose he will use the poor deluded wretch gently and kindly, that"s his nature; but sure he will scorn his ravings?"
"I cannot tell what Andrew may think in his heart," says Harry moodily; "but he uses the man as if he thought him a saint or a martyr, or both.
I wish harm may not come of this day"s doings;" and he fell into a gloomy silence.
I had never seen him look so nearly angry before. We were now got to the Parsonage, and Harry arousing himself to take leave of us, our aunt says to him,--
"I shall ask you to do me a great good turn, by bringing your father to sup with us at the Grange. I would have him reason peaceably with yon poor distraught man, and convince him of his folly; so he may do a service to my Andrew also, if he has indeed a leaning to such delusions."
"Well, madam, I will do it for you," said Harry; "but there is only one other person in the world to please whom I would bring my father into such odd company as yon man"s;" and he went in, looking but half pleased; and as we took our way to the Grange I was musing who that other person might be Harry was so fain to please.
When we got into the hall we saw Andrew sitting there and talking with the stranger, who was now clothed like any other man. His face had been bruised and his hair torn by the violence of the people; but, for all these disfigurements, I, looking earnestly at him, could see he was the very one the sight of whose ill-usage had so moved Andrew on our journey; there was the same composed look, and the same strange inward light in his eye.
He rose when he saw Aunt Golding come in, saluting her with the words, "Peace be to thee!" on which she, gravely smiling, said,--
"You did not bring peace with you to our place of worship, sir; but I trust no one will break your peace in my house, where you are welcome to rest and refresh you this day."
"No man can break my peace," said he, "my soul being ever at rest in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem."
"That"s a good resting-place indeed," said our aunt. "Will you tell me by what name I am to call you while you stay here? I think no one in our village knows who you are."
"Not every one can know my name, but they that have the Light," said the man; "and the world can never know it."
"But sure, man, you have a name of your own by which the world does know you," said our aunt a little impatiently.
"I wish not to deny it," he replied; "therefore fret not thyself, good friend,--my worldly name is James Westrop. And I will tell thee what thou askest not, that my errand hither is to this young man, Andrew Golding. I have now told him my message, so I am free to depart; and if thou likest not of my talk or my ways, I refuse not to leave thy house and protection this hour."
"But I will not have you go," said she, "till you are refreshed and rested. And, in good time, here comes the Vicar, whom I have desired to sup with us and to reason with you. You will not refuse his company? He scorns not yours."
"I will not refuse it," said Westrop gravely; and Mr. Truelocke coming in at that moment with Harry, we all went presently to table.
I marvelled greatly during the meal at Mr. Truelocke"s courtesy, so kindly did he speak to the Quaker; and he strove to excuse to him the mad behaviour of the people, ascribing it to their regard for their ancient pastor, now about to leave them. "I pray you," he said, "to pardon them for my sake."
"Friend," said James Westrop, "I had pardoned them before they offended.
But thou art deceived if thou thinkest it was love to thee which moved them. They could not endure my word, because their own spirits were foul. My word was to them as the shining of a candle into a dark, dirty place, and the sight of their foulness made them mad against me. But in thee I perceive purity of intention; and I will gladly reason with thee of the things of the Spirit, according to this good woman"s desire."
So after supper Aunt Golding showed the Quaker and Mr. Truelocke into a parlour, and herself with Andrew went in to hear their reasonings; but Althea whispered me, and said, "Let us go and walk in the garden; I cannot stay and hear the man"s insolent talk." So we stepped out, and began to pace up and down one of the walks, the moon being just risen, and the evening very sweet and calm--a pleasant change it was after the heats and storms of that afternoon"s work. Presently Harry joined us, and said at once, "Well, sweet ladies, so you have no mind to turn Quakers?"
"As soon shall this rose turn nettle," said Althea, plucking a white rose off a bush and giving it to him. "Keep it, I pray you; and when you find it will sting you to touch it, then conclude Althea Dacre has turned Quaker."
"Give me your rose too, Mistress Lucia," said Harry.
So I gathered one, and put it in his hand; but I felt obliged to say,--
"I cannot speak so confidently as my sister; I know nothing of these people and their doctrines."
"You see their doings," said Althea indignantly; "that should be enough.
Mr. Truelocke, Lucia and I were bred up true Churchwomen, and so I will continue to my dying day. I love not all these sects that spring up like weeds in the ruined places of the Church; I am for those who are building up her walls again, and making them stronger."
"And is this your mind too, Mistress Lucia?" says Harry. "I fear me, if it is, you will not approve my good father either;" at which Althea went red and went pale, for she had not thought how her words might hit Mr.
Truelocke; but since she did not speak, I said,--
"Being so ignorant about these things, I don"t like to say much, except that I hate these new harsh laws,--axes, I think them, lopping off from our Church her true, faithful members as if they were diseased limbs. I fear me the poor trunk that is left will be like a headless, handless corpse without them."
"Well, G.o.d mend all!" said Harry, drawing a long breath. "For my part, all I know is, that I would these great folks who rule us now had let my father end his days in peace, without pestering him about surplices and Prayer-Books and the sign of the cross, all which he holds for rank Papistry, I suppose; and I cannot wish him to lie, even about such foolish trifles as these things appear to me. But what profits wishing?"
"Very little," said Althea, sighing softly. "I might wish too, all in vain, that I had not spoken with such needless warmth even now;" and she began entreating him to believe she had meant no disrespect to his father; but he cut her short, a.s.suring her he knew it already.
"My father is not in all your thoughts," said he; "but he is seldom out of mine. I am ever longing to see him settled in some peaceful shelter before I go to sea;" and he looked more downcast than I had ever seen him.
We were got into the orchard now, winding in and out among the trees, and Althea went musing by herself; but I could not help lingering beside Harry, to say some comfortable words about how all folks loved Mr.
Truelocke, my aunt especially, and I knew it was in her mind to have the old gentleman make his home at the Grange with her, if he only would.
"Ay," says Harry; "that"s a larger "if" than you wot of, sweet Lucy. But would it please you, as well as Mrs. Golding, to have the old man living under this roof?" and I answered hastily,--
"Nothing could like me better than to have so kind and fatherly a man dwelling with us, not to say that his holiness and piety would bring down Heaven"s blessing on any house that sheltered him; and I promise you," I went on, "that I, for my part, would show him all a daughter"s love and duty,"--"and so will Althea,"--I would fain have added, had not Harry cut my speech short, saying,--